Container



March 5, 1968 T. PERRELLA 3,371,844

CONTAINER Filed D80- 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Theodore Perreua ATTORNEYS March 5, 1968 Q T. PERRELLA 3,371,844

CONTAINER Filed Dec. 21, 1965 2Sheets-Sheet 2 i' E i Q 4a I 17 a I 35 INVENTOR. F|5 6 Theodora Perre:

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofihce 3,371,844 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 3,371,844 CONTAINER Theodore Perrella, 1203 Penn St., Leesburg, Fla. 32748 Filed Dec. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 516,213 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-37) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible container formed from a single blank which may be folded to lie flat for shipping; be erected by pushing the ends of the folded blank toward each other and closed by telescoping the upper portion of the container over the lower portion. The blank comprises lower side and end rectangular panels with bottom forming flaps hingedly connected thereto, upper side and end panels corresponding to the lower side and end panels, and cover forming panels interposed between the upper and lower side and end panels and hingedly connected to both. The cover forming panels are provided with median longitudinal score lines whereby to bend and project inwardly to form the cover when the outer portion of the container is telescoped over the lower. The side cover forming panels are provided with cut out pontions to accommodate the infolding end cover forming panels.

This invention relates to a self erecting, self closing type of container or carton of the type which may be stored flat and erected by pressing the .ends to bring them closer together.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a container of the character designated which may be closed by pressing downward on an upper section of the erected container, thereby forming a double wall, double bottom closed carton.

Another object of my invention is to provide a strong shipping container, or carton, which shall be simple of construction, easily assembled, easily erected with a minimum of labor and which shall comprise a single blank from which it is erected.

As is well known in theart to which my invention relates, in the packaging and shipping of goods and merchandise, the labor involved in packaging the goods is a major factor in the expense thereof. In containers with which I have heretofore been familiar, it has been necessary first to erect the container, then fill it with goods or merchandise, and then place upon it and secure a separate top. All of these operations involve considerable time and expense. In accordance with my invention, the carton is received by the shipper in a collapsed form, occupying a minim-urn of space, and is erected by simply pressing the ends of the collapsed form nearer together. The material to be shipped is then placed with the box or carton, and it is closed by simply pushing down on the upper section of the box whereupon the various parts hereafter to be described interleave and form a tight cover. My improved container is especially adapted for the shipping of perishable goods such as fruits and vegetables.

A container embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container collapsed for storage or shipping;

FIG. 2 'is a perspective view of the container erected with top open;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container in erected, closed position;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the blank from which the container is made, before erection;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the blank with the top panel folded downward and away from the position it occupies as shown in FIG. 4; and

.FIG. 6 is a view showing the bottom forming flaps folded upward over the side and end forming panels preparatory to folding the blank to the position shown in FIG. 1.

Referring first to FIGURE 4 of the drawings showing the blank from which the container is made, the blank is comprised of three sections, an upper section 10, an intermediate section 11, and a lower section 12. The upper section 10 is comprised of side forming panels 13 and 14, and end forming panels 16 and 17, which panels form the outer wall of the carton when it is finally erected. The upper section 10 is separated from the intermediate section 11 by a score line, or hinge 18.

The intermediate section 11 of the blank which forms the top of the carton when assembled, is hinged to the lower section 12 by a score, or hinge line 19. The intermediate section 11 comprises two side forming panels 21 and 22, forming the sides of the top of the assembled container, each scored along a horizontal median line 23. Each of the panels 21 and 22 has triangular portions 24 and 26 cut out at its opposite ends, forming triangular recesses which span the width of the section. The intermediate section 11 also has two rectangular panels 27 and 28 which form the end portions of the top of the carton when closed. Each of said end forming panels is scored along a horizontal median line 31.

The lower section 12 which forms the inner wall of the erected container is comprised of side forming panels 32 and 33 which correspond to the side panels 13 and 14 shown in FIG. 4. The lower section 12 is also comprised of end panels 34 and 36 which correspond to the end forming panels 16 and 17 shown in FIG. 4 of the draw mg.

Joined to the lower section 12 of the blank are rectangular bottom forming flaps 37 and 38 which are joined to the side forming panels 32 and 33 by a scored hinge line 39 which extends end to end of the blank. Joined to the end forming panels 34 and 36 along the hinge line 39, are trapezoidal bottom forming flaps 41 and 42, each having one side 43 cut away at an acute angle to the score line 39. Each of the flaps 41 and 42 is scored by a diagonal line 44 extending from the scored line 39 to the opposite lower corner to provide a hinge line defining a triangular portion which is provided with adhesive as shown at 46. The rectangular bottom forming flaps 37 and 38 may be made any suitable width up to the width of the container.

The blank is provided with end flaps 47 and 48 which are provided with adhesive as shown at 49 and 50 in FIG. 5. The adhesive is not shown on flap 47 in FIG. 4 for the reason it is on the opposite side from the viewer. In order to assemble the blank for erection, the section 10 is first folded downward away from the viewer as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawing. The bottom forming flaps 37 and 38 are then folded upwards over the side forming panels 32 and 33 as shown in FIG. 6. Following this, the trapezoidal flaps 41 and 42 are folded upwards over the end forming panels 34 and 36 and the triangular portions are folded backwards over the remainder of the trapezoidal flap to the positions shown in FIG. 6 of the drawing. The blank is provided with vertical scored, or hinge lines 15, 20 and 25 which hinge the ends of the respective panels, forming vertical sections 51, 52, 53 and 54.

When the bottom forming flaps 3'7, 38, 41 and 42 have been folded to the positions shown in FIG. 6, the vertical section 54 is folded over vertical section .53 and a part of 52 thus bringing the bottom forming flap 38, at one end, over the portion of the triangular part 46 of flap 42 which is provided with adhesive, thus securing them together. The vertical section 51 is then folded over the remaining portion of vertical section 52 thus bringing the portion 46 of flap 41 containing the adhesive, over an end portion of the bottom forming fiap 37. The end flaps 4'7 and 48 are then secured to the side forming panels 14 and 33 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing.

The carton can then be erected by pressing on the ends of the blank until it assumes the form shown on FIG. 2. In this position, the bottom forming fiaps 41, 42, 37, and 38 interleave to form the bottom of the box with the top open.

To erect and close the container, beginning with its collapsed position shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing, the ends of the collapsed container are pushed toward each other. The trapezoidal bottom forming flaps unfold from their positions as shown in FIG. 6 and, being joined to the rectangular bottom forming flaps 37 and 38, pull them downward to form the bottom of the container.

To close the container, the upper portion formed by horizontal section 10 of the blank is pushed downward to telescope over the lower portion formed by the section 12 of the blank. The outer side forming panels 13 and 14 and end forming panels 16 and 17 and the top forming panels 21, 22, 27 and 28 are made slightly longer in horizontal dimension than the corresponding lower side forming panels 32 and 33 and end forming panels 34 and 36 to. compensate for the thickness of material from which the container is made and permit the upper horizontal section 10 to telescope over the lower section 12 and to cooperate with the top forming panels in closing the container. This feature is shown in exaggerated form in the drawings.

When the blank from which the container is formed is folded from the position shown in FIG. 6 to that shown in FIG. 1, it will be seen that the sides of the rectangular panels are in position for their hinge lines 31 to be directly opposite the triangular recess portions of panels 21 and 22. When the upper portion of the erected container is pushed downwards all the panels bend along their hinge lines and panels 27 and 28 enter the triangular recesses of the panels 21 and 22 and interlock to form a tight cover for the container. From the foregoing it will be seen that my improved container is especially adapted for use in shipping merchandise where filling and closing the container in a minimum of time is important.

As many widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A container blank comprised of (a) inner rectangular side panels and inner rectangular end panels,

(b) rectangular bottom forming flaps hingedly connected to the lower edges of the inner side panels,

(c) trapezoidal bottom forming flaps hingedly con nected to the lower edges of the inner end panels, each of said trapezoidal flaps having a triangular portion bendable back upon itself and securable to its adjacent rectangular bottom forming flap,

(d) a rectangular top forming panel joined to the upper edge of each of the inner end panels, each of said rectangular top forming panels being hinged to fold along its horizontal median line,

(e) a top forming panel hingedly joined to the upper edge of each of the inner side forming panels, each of said top forming panels having a triangular recess at each end spanning the width of the panel and being hinged to fold along its horizontal median line,

(f) outer rectangular side panels and outer rectangular end panels hingedly joined to the upper edges of the top forming panels,

(g) vertical hinge connections between all of said panels, and

(h) flaps on the outer and the inner end panels joined to the adjacent outer and inner side panels when the container is erected.

2. A container blank as defined in claim 1 in which the outer side and end forming panels and the top forming panels are each made with slightly longer lineal dimensions than the corresponding inner side and end forming panels.

3. A container made from the blank of claim 1 and foldable when secured together to lie fiat for shipping and storage and erected by pressing the ends of the folded blank toward each other.

4. A container as defined in claim 3 formed from a single blank of flexible material and closed by pushing downward on the outer side and end forming panels of the erected container.

5. A container as defined in claim 3 in which the outer rectangular side panels and outer rectangular end panels are folded downward over the top forming panels.

6. A container as defined in claim 4 in which the top forming panels interleave and close to form a tight cover for the container when the outer side and end forming panels are pushed downward on the erected container.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,329,346 7/1967 Keith 229-37 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT PESHOCK, Examiner. 

